Menopause marks the end of a woman's menstrual cycles and her body's natural reproductive years. It typically begins in a woman's late 40s to early 50s. As a woman approaches menopause, her ovaries begin producing less of the key hormones estrogen and progesterone. This decline in hormones causes a variety of symptoms. Being informed about what to expect during menopause can help women be proactive about relief.
Many women experience bothersome symptoms as they transition into menopause. Common complaints include:
In addition to physical symptoms, some women struggle emotionally during menopause. The combination of hot flashes, sleep deprivation, and hormonal changes can significantly impair mood and quality of life.
It's important not to dismiss menopausal issues as unimportant or "just part of aging." Seeking treatment can help women feel like themselves again.
The first step in pursuing menopause treatment is diagnostic blood and saliva testing to analyze hormone levels. Two key hormones that decline during perimenopause and menopause are:
Estrogen helps regulate the reproductive system, cholesterol levels, bone strength, heart health, skin elasticity, temperature regulation, memory, and more. Low estrogen is responsible for most disruptive menopausal symptoms like hot flashes, trouble sleeping, vaginal dryness, and mood changes.
There are three main types of estrogen that can be measured:
Progesterone works closely with estrogen to regulate the menstrual cycle each month. It plays an important role in pregnancy as well.
Declining progesterone can lead to issues like:
Saliva or blood tests can identify low progesterone levels. Tracking symptoms and menstrual patterns also helps build a clinical picture.
Once testing confirms a hormone deficiency, the most effective treatment is hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to restore optimal estrogen and/or progesterone levels.
The goal of HRT is to minimize troublesome menopausal symptoms so women can feel their best. Customized therapy delivers hormones the body lacks to regain balance. Benefits may include:
For many women, the 1 reason to pursue HRT is eliminating frustrating hot flashes and night sweats. Supplementing low estrogen levels regulates temperature centers in the brain that get disrupted around menopause.
Restoring estrogen improves blood flow and natural lubrication to vaginal tissues. This alleviates dryness, irritation, pain, and discomfort during intimacy which affect over half of menopausal women.
Estrogen plays a protective role in cardiovascular health and bone density. Women who take HRT within 6-10 years of menopause tend to have a lower risk of heart disease and osteoporosis.
By improving disruptive menopausal symptoms, hormone therapy helps women regain their quality of life. Restful sleep, balanced moods, active libido, and sharp thinking all contribute to overall wellbeing.
There are a variety of delivery methods and medication options to meet each woman's needs:
Our
This helps us identify hormone imbalances and the optimal treatment regimen.
HRT is carefully tailored to fit each patient's:
We offer both systemic and localized therapy options to precisely match needs.
Hormone balance fluctuates, so patients need periodic follow-up and lab testing. We adjust prescriptions over time for ideal symptom relief with minimal risks. This collaborative long-term management is key to successful treatment.
Women often tolerate menopausal discomforts hoping symptoms fade over time. However, prolonged hormone deficiency can negatively impact health. Concerns like osteoporosis, heart disease, diabetes, and cognition issues increase over time.
That's why we recommend not delaying treatment. Addressing symptoms when they first arise can:
We offer convenient same-day consults to quickly alleviate disruption to everyday life.
When facing menopause concerns, women deserve compassionate, competent care. The
Our practitioners complete rigorous training in
We recognize no two patients or plans are identical. After a comprehensive workup, we customize evidence-based hormone therapy for your unique needs.
As leaders in preventive, proactive care, we advise positive lifestyle changes alongside hormone therapy. Guidance to optimize nutrition, activity, stress levels, and mental health helps maximize treatment benefits.
We are fully committed to supporting your journey through menopause into vibrant aging.
